Guarantees made on new Northern Beaches Hospital despite staff fears
The new — and controversial — Northern Beaches Hospital is just days away from opening. Health officials have made guarantees on what people can expect from the flash new facility — but not everybody is convinced.
Manly
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THE Health Department has guaranteed that surgical services will be fully operational when Northern Beaches Hospital opens its doors next Tuesday, despite some staff yet to undertake training.
A Northern Sydney Local Health District spokesman said there were just a few people in the anaesthetics team yet to undertake training at the new hospital in Frenchs Forest.
“The majority of the anaesthetics team will have received training on the new equipment by
the end of this week and will be ready to provide services the day the hospital opens,” he said.
“Due to their own personal circumstances a small number of the anaesthetics team will
receive their training next week.
“This will not affect the operation of surgical services at the new hospital.”
It follows complaints to the Manly Daily by a nurse who said they had not been given time off this week to learn how to use new machinery in the operating theatre.
“Manly management aren’t helping the staff transition,” the nurse said.
“They’re big machines that monitor the patient under anaesthetic.
“It’s not like getting a new printer.”
The NSLHD spokesman said more than 600 staff had been involved in the large scale training and orientation program for Northern Beaches Hospital and more than 1200 individual training sessions had been completed.
“The training has included all disciplines from clinical to engineering and cleaning services to
administration,” he said.
“Most staff have had at least one day of orientation, while others will have completed up to
nine days of training depending on their roles and seniority.”
The orientation program is focusing on systems, procedures and equipment, while staff also
had the opportunity to explore the hospital and become familiar with their department.
“Staff are to be congratulated on this fantastic achievement while continuing to provide
excellent health care services at both Manly and Mona Vale Hospitals,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, apart from training, the hospital is a hive of activity as the final touches are made.
A spokesman from the private operator which will run the hospital, Healthscope, said it was undergoing another clinical clean, managers were re-checking stock and equipment following numerous rounds of testing.
Other jobs include hanging community art work on the walls, handing out passes and keys to staff, taking down fencing around the site and unveiling signage around the hospital.
Director of nursing Moran Wasson said it had been a tremendous amount of hard work to get to this point.
“There is a real buzz about the place and the nurses I’m seeing on a daily basis are so keen to get patients through the doors now,” she said.
“As with any new hospital opening there will be teething problems, but we have a fantastic team in place to solve issues and provide the very best care to people on the northern beaches.”
One of the busiest areas of the hospital is already up and running – Forest Kitchen, the public restaurant run by Emirates.
While most people will associate Emirates with the airline, it also runs restaurants in 44 hospitals across Australia.
The 50-strong catering team led by experienced chef Martin Dulke expects to provide 5000 meals and 5000 coffees to visitors and staff every week.
Patients are catered for in a separate operation within the hospital.
The 798-seat restaurant, which also has a stand-alone espresso bar serving Hudsons and Seven Miles coffee brands, as well as a juice bar, has been open for the last couple of weeks, serving refreshments to Northern Beaches Hospital staff already on-board.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard recently met restaurant staff and even sampled the food.
“The coffee was excellent,” he said.
“And, because I was in the hospital I thought I’d better choose a healthy option so I had a vegetarian filling on wholemeal.”
During the visit he also met northern beaches schoolgirl Chloe, 9, who won the coffee cup design competition run by Healthscope which will be used in all its machines around the hospital.
“It was the first time she had seen her design on the cups and I think she can be very proud of herself,” Mr Hazzard said.
The hospital opens at 7am on October 30 and around 200 patients will be transferred in a complex operation from Manly and Mona Vale hospitals to the new site.
Manly Hospital will close after the move while Mona Vale Hospital will lose its acute services, including emergency department, operating theatres and maternity. All those service will only be available at the new hospital.
A new 24/7 urgent care centre will open at Mona Vale Hospital to cater for people with minor injuries and illnesses.
To read all the details of the opening read the Manly Daily on Saturday.